Borrowers and buyers suing Zillow for alleged RESPA violations and racketeering laid out new arguments in court filings last week, largely focused on pushing back against the portal’s contention that their lawsuit lacks legal merit while emphasizing their case hinges on agents’ obligations to represent clients’ best interests. The case, composed of two consolidated class-action…
If there’s one declaration most new real estate agents don’t want to hear after spending a lot of time with a homebuyer client it could very well be the following: “We’ve decided to rent.” On one hand, there goes a hefty commission. But on the other hand, while agents logically prefer sales, they can often…
A federal judge has dismissed the majority of federal claims in an antitrust lawsuit brought by four Louisiana real estate brokers challenging the National Association of Realtors®’ (NAR) mandatory three-way membership requirement for MLS access—though the door remains open for the plaintiffs to refile some of those claims. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick of the…
So-called “premarket” listings appear to be the next big trend for the industry. Zillow’s recent pivot to host what are essentially “Coming Soon” properties (and a mad rush by brokers to strike deals with the portal or other consumer platforms) was an overwhelming affirmation that real estate believes that, to some degree, limited marketing options…
Per a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and court documents, REMAX has reached a settlement agreement in the Batton commission lawsuit (the first and largest by homebuyers) and will pay $8.5 million to resolve claims that it implemented and enforced rules that harmed buyers. The news comes the day after Judge LaShonda…
In today’s market, trust is often the deciding factor in whether a client chooses to move forward with an agent or keep looking. And that trust is usually built, or lost, in the very first conversation. While experience and production matter, how agents show up in those early interactions can make all the difference. First…
A new survey from Zillow finds a striking reversal in market dynamics: by the fourth quarter of 2025, 51% of agents said market conditions were favoring buyers, the first time that had been true all year. From this same time last year, inventory is up 5%, the monthly mortgage payment on a typical U.S. home…
Today, many brokerages feel caught between two priorities: growing the business and protecting the agent experience. Too often, growth wins and service quietly erodes. This results in operational debt that comes to light when the market tightens. That erosion isn’t accidental. Growth fails when the systems meant to support it were built too late. Sustainable…
A federal judge dealt a significant blow to Washington-based Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS), refusing to throw out an antitrust lawsuit brought by the real estate giant Compass. In the 23-page order filed Thursday, U.S. District Judge Jamal N. Whitehead denied NWMLS’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit, ruling that Compass at this early stage, had…
As largely expected, the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady at its March Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, leaving the federal funds rate unchanged at a rate of 3.5% – 3.75%—the same level established following December’s quarter-point cut. There was a singular dissenting vote from Stephen I. Miran, who preferred to lower the target…
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